NPD cop busted by SPD man for robbery on MPD turf

MANILA, Philippines—Here is a case involving three police districts—one of them for the wrong reason.

A member of the Northern Police District (NPD) was charged in court Monday with robbery and illegal possession of firearms for allegedly being part of a trio that tried to grab some P900,000 in cash and jewelry from a couple in Manila on the afternoon of April 22.

PO2 Argel Nabor, 27, who reported to the NPD Office of the Deputy District Director for Administration and a resident of Sampaloc, Manila, was arrested when the roadside robbery drew the attention of another policeman from the Southern Police District (SPD) who happened to be passing by. Nabor was later taken into custody by members of the Manila Police District (MPD).

According to the complaint, businessman Apolinario Ylagan and his wife, Guillerma, residents of Sta. Cruz, Manila, were onboard a silver gray Toyota Hilux with driver Emilito Cay when a policeman on a motorcycle—not Nabor but another suspect—flagged them down on Roxas Boulevard near the US Embassy.

The policeman asked them what they were carrying in the vehicle, to which the driver replied: “Flour and sugar for the bakery.”

The policeman let them go but later followed the Hilux and flagged it down again in front of Aloha Hotel, this time asking for the driver’s license.

As Cay got out of the vehicle to talk to the policeman, two more men on separate motorcycles arrived. One of them, later identified as Nabor, pointed a gun at Ylagan and took his bag containing P200,000 in cash and two sets of gold jewelry worth P700,000.

Ylagan managed to throw a punch at Nabor, kicked his motorcycle and tried to get the bag back. Seeing the commotion, the driver rushed to help his employer.

Dennis de la Peña, a policeman assigned to the SPD’s District Public Safety Battalion, was also on a motorcycle passing through Roxas Boulevard heading to Pasay City when he saw the scuffle.

De la Peña approached the Hilux and was told by Cay and Ylagan that Nabor was trying to rob them, the complaint said.

De la Peña drew his gun, preventing Nabor from fleeing, but Nabor’s two cohorts managed to escape. Minutes later, other policemen from the MPD’s Malate station arrived and placed Nabor under arrest.

Recovered from Nabor was a 9-mm Taurus pistol, which turned out to be registered to another person.

Assistant City Prosecutor Cesar Ramil Margate explained that Nabor could be charged in court without first undergoing a preliminary investigation since he was lawfully arrested even without a warrant. Bail was set at P100,000.